Lions pick up first win with 58-47 win over Susquehanna JV

HAZLETON, Pa. - Sophomore Jordan Singletary (Houston, Tx.) picked up his second double-double of the season to lead Penn State Hazleton past Susquehanna University JV, 58-47, in a non-conference game on Wednesday night in the Dr. Thomas Caccese Gymnasium.

Singletary led the charge with 16 points and 16 rebounds while also blocking four shots. His presence in the paint helped Hazleton win the rebounding battle, 43-28, while also outscoring the Crusaders 12-2 in the paint. Sophomore Royce Brathwaite (Pocono Summit, Pa.) was the other Nittany Lion to finish in double figures with 12 points while also dishing out four assists.

All nine Hazleton players to see the floor scored, including 19 points off of the bench. Sophomore Anthony Kaiser (Brooklyn, NY) led the way with seven points. Junior Richard Hobbs (Central Islip, NY) hit two three-pointers, finishing with eight points as a starter.

Hazleton (1-4, 0-0 PSUAC) dominated nearly every statistical category, and despite committing 17 turnovers, the Lions were able to force just as many and turn them into 19 points. Hazleton held the Crusaders to 31 percent shooting, including just 17 percent in the first half.

1st Half

Singletary and Brathwaite got their points in early, scoring the first 13 for Hazleton as the Lions grabbed a 13-7 lead. A 5-0 Susquehanna run made it 13-12 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the half, but sophomore Rashad Bagner-Gray (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Kaiser hit back-to-back three-pointers in the span of 27 seconds to give Hazleton a six point cushion.

Those three's started what would become a 14-0 Lions run, with Hazleton getting points from five players during the stretch. Singletary would close the first half much like he started it, scoring the final four points of the half as the Lions took a 32-15 advantage into the break.

2nd Half

Susquehanna battled in the second, pulling within eight midway through the half. The Crusaders outscored Hazleton 18-9 during the first 9:25 of the second, but Bagner-Gray and junior Dwayne Richardson (Richmond, Va.) stretched the lead back to 10 with a lay-up and three-pointer, respectively. 

Brathwaite and Richardson combined to go 5-for-6 from the free throw line down the stretch to hold near 10 for most of the final five minutes. The closest the Crusaders would come was seven, a 50-43 deficit with 3:25 remaining. Hobbs sealed the game in the last two minutes with a three and a late lay-up to cap the victory.

Top Performers

Singletary earns Penn State Hazleton's player of the game honor with his double-double. His 16 points are a season-high, while his 16 rebounds match his season opening total of 16 at Luzerne County Community College.

Jake Wiles was the only Crusader in double-figures with 14 points. 

NEXT UP: Hazleton will remain home when they host NCAA Division III opponent Marywood University on Saturday, Nov. 21st at 1:00 p.m. The game is part of a men's and women's doubleheader, with the women following at 3:00 p.m.